OBJECTIVETo study the antiulcer effects and the mechanism of Veronicastrum axillare (Sieb. et Zucc) Yamazaki (VAY) on ethanol induced gastric ulcer rats.

METHODSTotally 48 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, i.e., the normal group, the model group, the ranitidine group, the high dose VAY group, the medium dose VAY group, and the low dose VAY group, 8 in each group. Rats in the normal group and the model group were administered with normal saline respectively. Rats in the ranitidine group were administered with 0.18% ranitidine suspension (at the daily dose of 0.027 g/kg) by gastrogavage. Those in the high dose VAY group, the medium dose VAY group, and the low dose VAY group were administered with VAY at the daily dose of 2.8 g/kg, 1.4 g/kg, and 0.7 g/kg by gastrogavage, once daily for 14 consecutive days. The gastric ulcer model was established using absolute ethanol after the last gastrogavage. The ulcer index and the ulcer inhibitory rate were compared. The concentrations of malonyldialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the serum and the homogenate of the gastric mucosa tissue were detected.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the gastric ulcer index in the rest groups obviously decreased (P < 0.01). The ulcer index was dose-dependent with VAY (P < 0.01), with the highest gastric ulcer index shown in the high dose VAY group (P < 0.01). Compared with the normal group, the concentrations of MDA and NO significantly increased in the serum and the gastric mucosa tissue, the activity of SOD and the EGF content in the gastric mucosa tissue of rats in the model group significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the MDA concentrations in the serum and the gastric mucosa tissue decreased, the serum NO content increased, the NO content in the gastric mucosa tissue decreased, the serum SOD activity increased, the EGF content in the gastric mucosa tissue increased in the rest groups, all showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe water extract of VAY had significant effects on ethanol induced gastric ulcer. Its mechanisms might lie in reducing the generation of free radicals, promoting the oxygen free radical clearance, restraining lipid peroxidation, regulating and controlling the in vivo contents of NO and EGF.

Animals ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Ethanol ; adverse effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plantago ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stomach Ulcer ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

The high and continuing soaring incidence of diabetes may become a huge obstacle to China's development. The antidiabetic drug development is one way to solve the problem. Animal model is a powerful tool for drug development. This paper compares and analyzes the three kinds of animal models for antidiabetic drug development in replicating principle, methods and characteristic, then summarized the application in the research of traditional Chinese medicine. At the same time, the analysis of the market, application and clinical advantages of hypoglycemic medicine from traditional Chinese medicine, is given in this paper, based on the literature analysis. From the point of the clinic advantage embodiment and new drug development, this paper will provide advisory and assistance support for the anti-diabetic fighting with traditional Chinese medicine.
Animals ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus ; drug therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drug Discovery ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective To observe whether the expression of interferon-regulatory factor genes are re- lated to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods The clinical data of 45 SLE patients and 37 normal controls were collected.Total RNA of peripheral blood was extracted and transcripted into cDNA.Sybr green dye based real-time quantitative PCR method was used to compare the expression (indicated as-??Ct value) of IRFI,IRF4,IRF8 in patients with SLE and those in the controls.Results The levels of IRF1,IRF4 and IRF8 mRNA were-3.90?0.19,-8.04?0.25 and 3.60?0.15 respectively in normal controls.In SLE patients, IRF4 mRNA expression was -8.82?0.18,higher than that in normal (P=0.011).But IRF8 mRNA expression was 3.09?0.13,lower than that in normal (P=0.012).Conclusion Abnormal IRF mRNA expression is found in the peripheral blood of SLE patients.IRFs may play roles in the pathogenesis of SLE by affecting the differen- tiation of Th cells.

AIMTo investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in mouse ears induced with croton oil and the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone, indomethacin and resveratrol on MMP-9 expression, and further explore the relationship between anti-inflammation and MMP-9 inhibition of these three medicines.

METHODSImmuno-histochemistry was used to detect the expression of MMP-9 in mouse ears. Expression of MMP-9 in U937 cells was analyzed by gelatin zymography.

RESULTSMouse ear edema induced with croton oil was inhibited significantly by dexamethasone and indomethacin at the dose of 10 mg.kg-1 and resveratrol at 50 mg.kg-1 administered subcutaneously. The inhibitory rate was 76.2% (P < 0.001), 56.7% (P < 0.001) and 36.9% (P < 0.001) respectively. The MMP-9 expression increased in mouse ears induced with croton oil and inhibited by dexamethasone, indomethacin and resveratrol at above doses. Gelatin zymography results showed that MMP-9 expression in U937 cells increased significantly after exposed to PMA at 1 x 10(-8) mol.L-1 (P < 0.001); MMP-9 expression induced with phorbol myristate acetate(PMA) was inhibited by dexamethasone at 1 x 10(-9), 1 x 10(-7) and 1 x 10(-5) mol.L-1, indomethacin at 1 x 10(-6) and 1 x 10(-5) mol.L-1 and resveratrol at 1 x 10(-6) and 1 x 10(-5) mol.L-1.

CONCLUSIONThe inhibition of MMP-9 expression may be one of the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of dexamethasone, indomethacin and resveratrol.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Croton Oil ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Ear Diseases ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Edema ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Humans ; Indomethacin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Random Allocation ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; U937 Cells ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDOne of the major causes of death in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is severe infection owing to bacterial translocation. Some clinical studies suggested that ecoimmunonutrition (EIN) as a new strategy had better treatment effect on SAP patients. But the experiment studies on the precise mechanism of the effect of EIN were less reported. In this study, we mainly investigated the effects of EIN on bacterial translocation in SAP model of dogs.

METHODSSAP was induced by retrograde infusion of 5% sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct in healthy hybrid dogs. The SAP dogs were supported with either parenteral nutrition (PN) or elemental enteral nutrition (EEN) or EIN. The levels of serum amylase, serum aminotransferase and plasma endotoxin were detected before and after pancreatitis induction. On the 7th day after nutrition supports, peritoneal fluid, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), liver, and pancreas were collected for bacterial culture with standard techniques to observe the incidence of bacterial translocation. Pathology changes of pancreas were analyzed by histopathologic grading and scoring of the severity of pancreas, and the degree of intestinal mucosal damage was assessed by measuring mucosal thickness, villus height, and crypt depth of ileum.

RESULTSCompared with PN and EEN, EIN significantly decreased the levels of serum amylase, serum aminotransferase, plasma endotoxin, and the incidence of bacterial translocation. Furthermore, compared with the others, the histology scores of inflammation in pancreas and the ileum injury (ileum mocosa thickness, villus height, and crypt depth) were significantly alleviated by EIN (P < 0.05). Moreover, concerning liver function, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and albumin were ameliorating significantly in the EIN group.

CONCLUSIONOur results suggested that EIN could maintain the integrity of intestinal mucosal barrier and reducing the incidence of bacterial translocation in SAP dogs. Early EIN was safe and more effective treatment for SAP dogs.

Acute Disease ; Amylases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Dogs ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Enteral Nutrition ; Immunity ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Nutritional Support ; Pancreas ; pathology ; Pancreatitis ; immunology ; metabolism ; therapy ; Parenteral Nutrition

Female ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Infant ; Intestinal Obstruction ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Thermostable alpha-amylase from Pyrococcus furious is an important industrial enzyme in brewing and alcohol production. Eexpression of the thermostable a-amylase in plants can reduce greatly costs in the production of alcohol using crop plants. A chloroplast expression vector, p64A, containing the thermostable alpha-amylase gene from Pyrococcus furious, was constructed with clpP-trnL-petB-chlL-rp123-rpl2 as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii plastid homologous recombinant fragments and spetinomycin-resistant aadA gene as select marker. The plasmid p64A was transferred into the chloroplast genome of C. reinhardtii by the biolistic method. Nine independently transformed lines were obtained by 100 mg/L spectinomycin selection. PCR amplification, Southern blot analysis of the transgene and cultivation in the dark all showed that the a-amylase gene had been integrated into chloroplast genome of C. reinhardtii. The activity of amylase expressed in the chloroplast of C. reinhardtii was detected by amylase activity assay and found to be as high as 77.5 u/g fresh weight of cells. These experimental results demonstrated the possibility of using transgenic chloroplasts of plant as bioreactors for production of industrial enzymes.
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii ; genetics ; Chloroplasts ; genetics ; Enzyme Stability ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pyrococcus furiosus ; enzymology ; alpha-Amylases ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism

AIMTo study the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the supernatant of U937 cells stimulated with LPS and dexamethasone on interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in the synoviocyte from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSFibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from the joint tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis were cultured and incubated for 24 h with LPS (1 mg.L-1) or the supernatant of U937 cells stimulated with LPS (1 mg.L-1) for 24 h. Dexamethasone was added to the supernatant of U937 cells and FLS was incubated for 24 h. The expression of IL-6 protein was detected by radioimmunoassay. The mRNA expression of IL-6 was accessed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe growth of FLS was not markedly affected by LPS, and the protein secretion and mRNA expression of IL-6 were not markedly changed in FLS treated with LPS. The IL-6 secretion and IL-6 mRNA expression were significantly increased in FLS cultured with the supernatant from U937 cell treated with LPS. Dexamethasone markedly inhibited the protein secretion and mRNA expression of IL-6 in FLS cultured with the supernatant from U937 cell stimulated with LPS. The inhibitory effects were increased as the concentration of dexamethasone increased.

CONCLUSIONLPS was not shown to directly affect the expression of IL-6 in FLS, but it indirectly causes the increase of the IL-6 expression in FLS by stimulating U937 cell. Dexamethasone can inhibit this increase of the IL-6 expression.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; pathology ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Synovial Membrane ; drug effects ; metabolism ; U937 Cells

AIMTo study the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the supernatant of U937 cells stimulated with LPS and dexamethasone on matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in the synoviocyte from patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA).

METHODSFibroblast-like cells (FLS) from the joint tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis were cultured and incubated for 24 h with LPS (1 mg.L-1) or the supernatant of U937 cells stimulated with LPS (1 mg.L-1) for 24 h. Dexamethasone was added to the supernatant of U937 cells and FLS was incubated for 24 h. The activity of MMP-9 was analyzed by gelatin zymography. Protein expression of MMP-9 was detected by Western blot using special polyclonal antibodies. The mRNA expression of MMP-9 was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of MMP-9 was not markedly changed in FLS treated with LPS. The MMP-9 activity, MMP-9 secretion and MMP-9 mRNA expression were significantly increased in FLS cultured with the supernatant from U937 cell treated with LPS. Dexamethasone markedly inhibited the activity, protein secretion and mRNA expression of MMP-9 in FLS cultured with the supernatant from U937 cell stimulated with LPS, and the inhibitory effects were increased as the concentration of dexamethasone increased.

CONCLUSIONLPS did not directly affect the expression of MMP-9 in FLS, but it was found to indirectly cause the increase of MMP-9 expression in FLS by stimulating U937 cell. Dexamethasone was found to inhibit this increase of MMP-9 expression.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; pathology ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; pathology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; drug effects ; genetics ; Synovial Membrane ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; U937 Cells

Objective To investigate proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(~1H-MRS)findings and value on dog's brain contusion and laceration.Methods Models of focal brain contusion and laceration in 10 dogs were established through hitting on the right frontal-parietal lobe with a freely drop of 200g weight at 1.3 m height.Serial examinations(1 h,24 h,72 h,5 day,8 day and 14 day after trauma)were performed with conventional MRI and ~1H-MRS.NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr and NAA/Cho rates were analyzed with GE system 1.5 T scanner and relative software.After examination,all dogs were executed to death. Pathological study was performed at local brain contusion.Results 1 h and 24 h-post trauma,NAA/Cr、Cho/Cr、NAA/Cho were significantly reduced(NAA/Cr 0.843?0.214,0.862?0.204,contralateral ones 1.069?0.284,1.048?0.232,t=-7.227,-6.718,Cho/Cr 1.181?0.224,1.243?0.134,contralateral 1.415?0.305,1.455?0.159,t=-4.332,-4.489,NAA/Cho 0.701?0.147,0.536?0.136, contralateral 0.832?0.245,0.613?0.165,t=-2.652,-2.665.P＜0.05).Microscopy showed focal petechial hemorrhage and necrosis,neuron loss,neuraxonal swelling and small glial cell slightly hyperplasia.Five day post trauma,Cho/Cr was significantly elevated in comparison with contralateral ones (1.517?0.197,contralateral 1.387?0.214,t=3.758.P＜0.05).Pathologically,inflammatory was obvious,peri-angiitis,granula tissue and fibrosis were seen.8—14 day later,NAA/Cr was not significantly reduced(0.895?0.105,0.875?0.153,contralateral 0.989?0.169,0.990?0.173,t=-2.909, -2.471.P＞0.05),Cho/Cr was significantly increased(1.457?0.168,1.572?0.374,contralaterl 1.334?0.174,1.366?0.352,t=7.312,3.201.P＜0.05)Inflammatory and gila1 hyperplasia was more significant,granuloma were seen.Lipid and Lac peak were not seen at all stages.Conclusion MRS could be a methods to monitor neuron injury and repair,and dynamically to detect the metabolic changes of brain contusion and laceration,reflecting injury severity and provide theory data for early treatment and predicting long-term outcome after trauma.